Ferrari are hoping updates to their 2011 car will make them more competitive in qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend.

The team struggled to replicate their promising pre-season pace in Australia two weeks as Fernando Alonso qualified fifth and Felipe Massa eighth.

In the race the team fared better with Alonso finishing fourth and Massa seventh, following the exclusion of the Sauber team. The Brazilian set the fastest lap and Alonso the second fastest.

“After the opening round in Australia, we have spent a lot of time analysing all the data acquired in Melbourne and one clear fact is that our race pace there was definitely better than the one we had in qualifying,” deputy technical director Chris Dyer told Ferrari’s official website.

“After analysing qualifying and race data from Melbourne, there are already things we plan to change and improve for Malaysia,” said Pat Fry, assistant technical director.

“We have also added a further three or four test items and probably there will be even more new parts to test arriving in the few days between the Malaysia and China races. It’s a case of constant development throughout the season,” he said.

Ferrari have not won at Sepang since Kimi Raikkonen took the chequered flag back in 2008.